About two dozen pilot programs throughout LA Unified are helping prepare the entire district for new, more comprehensive state science tests that fifth-, eighth- and 11th-graders will start taking in 2019.

The new California Science Test (CAST) will replace the California Standards Test (CST). It will be taken on computers rather than on paper and will not be all multiple choice questions as in the past, said Derrick Chau, the senior executive director of instruction for the district.

“Also, the new tests will be cumulative and will not just cover the material from that grade level,” said Chau, who made a presentation Tuesday to the Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Equity Committee. So, for example, the science tests taken by eighth-graders will include all the science material studied between sixth and eighth grades rather than just the material studied that year.

Chau said that in a matter of days the state will release a version of the California Science Framework that will be posted after a series of reviews by instructors.

“I enjoy teaching this and watching the students actively think of themselves as young scientists,” said Donald, who displayed some of her students’ work.

She appoints one student a week to be the class meteorologist to monitor and explain what is going on with the weather and the moon. “They soon realize that science is everywhere around them, and it is refreshing to watch their interest grow,” Donald said.

Committee chairman and board member Richard Vladovic complimented Donald on her enthusiasm for teaching and said he believed it could only translate to better test scores.